unit history information
for B/4 AVN 4 INF
CALLSIGN = GAMBLER
CALLSIGN = ACE HIGH

For date 700615


B/4 AVN 4 INF was a US Army unit
Primary service involved, US Army
Binh Dinh Province, II Corps, South Vietnam
Location, An Khe
Description: The unit history page reads as follows: Co B, 4th Aviation (General Support), RVN Fort Lewis to Vietnam: Early in 1966 the 4th Aviation Battalion was founded. It consisted of HQ Co and B Co, General Support. In preparation for Vietnam B Co trained the Division in airmobile tactics. In July, with the receipt of the first gunships, B Co moved to Yakama to train it pilots for their future roles. Training was cut short due to the Divisions early departure for Vietnam in August. B Co departed Tacoma August 30th on the aircraft carrier "Core" and arrived at Cam Ranh Bay on the 21st of September 1966. GAMBLERS: Like all units, a search for an appropriate unit call-sign was undertaken. B Co, then the only operational aviation company concluded that "Gamblers" would be appropriate since all the gun pilots seemed always to be gambling on one thing or another. "Ace High," then became the company call-sign in honor of MG A.C. Collins, then the Division Commander, who was known to have the nickname "Ace." In mid-October the Gambler call-sign was heard in the Central Highlands of Vietnam for the first time, thus the Gambler tradition and legend was created. The Legend: The Gamblers illuminated their legend with close and low gun coverage. The men of B Co executed their duties with daring and boldness, covering slicks and medivacs close, be it right on the deck, or in a hail of enemy fire. The Gamblers were the first to capture an NVA soldier with a gunship. They were first in the use of Airborne Personnel Detection (Scorpion) in June 1967, and have not last an aircraft on this mission since December 1967. The Gamblers exploits in their conducting of the Scorpion mission have established their reputation for boldness, daring, courage, professionalism, and the "Gambler luck." The Gambler's list of firsts are well known and respected by the entire 4th Infantry Division and any other unit that caught a glimpse of their moving Cobras with the Ace of Spades painted on their nose. From Dong Ba Thin to Chu Lai, Tuy Hoa to Cambodia, and Ban Me Thuot to Dan Seang, the Gamblers have roamed in support of Paul Revere IV, Sam Houston, MacArthur, Cambodia and the defense of Pleiku and Kontum during Tet. The deeds of the Gamblers cannot be counted in dead enemy, but will be remembered with admiration by those who had a need and the Gamblers were there. For those who have worn, flown and fought under the Ace of Spades, there will always be that irrepressable feeling of pride that they were Gamblers, and Gamblers all. Notes about the 1970 Year Book follow: The inside photo shows an AH-1G with its blade untied in a revetment. MAJ T.J. Ferring, Jr., the company commander is referred to as "Sky King" and the enlisted formation as "Sky King's Ranch Hands," 1SGT Charles D. Jones as the "Top Hand." The picture of the Maintenance Platoon, the 'Ace High Repairmen' shows 18 men standing in a hanger doorway. There is a picture of 8 men standing in front of an OH-58 #16100 labeled Crew Chiefs. There is a picture of 19 pilots some wearing cobra patches and one labeled LOH Pilots showing six pilots. There are several pictures of men in and around a wrecked OH-58 with no tail boom or rotor system. The picture of the General Support Platoon shows 16 men. There are ten pilots in the photo labeled Cobra ACs and four labeled OH-58 crew chiefs. There are three men in front of an OH-6A labeled 'only one left.' The picture of the Service Platoon shows 31 men. The picture of the Headquarters Platoon shows 16 men. Later there is a picture of a UH-1C that appears to be in flying condition.
Comments: MAJ Ferring, Theodore J. Jr.; CO; ; 1SG Jones, Charles D.; 1st Sergant; ; CPT Sanger, Jasper J.; XO; ; CPT Olsen, George; ; ; CPT Edwards, William; ; ; CPT Singleton, James; ; ; CPT Carleton; Brian; ; ; SP5 Detato, Richard; Clerk; ; SP4 Allen, Charles E.; Clerk; ; CPT Longan, Patrick B.; ; ; SFC Swan, James J.; ; ; SP4 Crimaldi, Basil S.; ; ; SP4 Eastman, Mark D.; mail; ; PFC Klosterman, Edward R.; driver; ; SGT Bailey, Raymond D.; motor sgt; ; SP4 McKillip, Richard; clerk; ; SSG Pearce, Michael G; Opns Sgt; ; SGT Herman, David; mess sgt; ; SGT Slater, Marshall A.; ; ; CPT Lane, Merritt III; Opns Officer; ; SP4 Douglas, Lawrence; fireman; ; 1LT Prickett, Thomas R.; Maintenance Officer; ; WO1 Saylor, Ralph E.; Asst MO; ; SP6 Collins, Edgar; Tech Inspector; ; SFC Lynch, Thomas; Svc Plt Sgt; ; SP4 Loveless; ; ; SSG Baker, Carland; ; ; SP4 Kendrick, Robert S.; clerk; ; PFC Gassler, Bruce; ; ; CW2 West; ; ; CW2 Cole; ; ; CW2 Marsh; ; ; 1LT Bumgardner; ; ; CW2 Noonan; ; ; 1LT Stuckert; ; ; WO1 Hannah; ; ; WO1 Saylor; ; ; WO1 Mills, David; ; ; WO1 Martin; ; ; 2LT Allen; ; ; WO1 Beale; ; ; WO1 Hirsch; ; ; WO1 Nation; ; ; WO1 Girvan; ; ; SFC Vaugh; ; ; SSG Rivera; ; ; SSG Martin; ; ; SGT Degraffenreid; ; ; SP5 Dojack; ; ; SP5 Rosenow; ; ; SGT Rice; ; ; SP5 Bennett; ; ; SP5 Foster; ; ; SP5 Wyan; ; ; SP5 Maddin; ; ; SP5 McMahon; ; ; SP5 Reap; ; ; SP5 Van Nortwick; ; ; SP5 Wilkalkia; ; ; SP5 Franklin; ; ; SP5 Reno; ; ; SGT Herrmann; ; ; SP5 Bell; ; ; SGT Roe; ; ; SP5 Scheie; ; ; SP4 Withrow; ; ; SP4 Waters; ; ; SP4 Holland; ; ; SP4 Stanley; ; ; SP4 Taylor; ; ; SP4 Loveless; ; ; SP4 Sali; ; ; SP4 Jarrell; ; ; SP5 Cantrell; ; ; SP4 Imarata; ; ; SP4 Oram; ; ; SP4 Nelson; ; ; SP4 McCann; ; ; SP4 Douglas; ; ; SP4 Perez; ; ; SP4 Morton; ; ; SP4 Fowler; ; ; SP4 Carver; ; ; SP4 Johnson; ; ; SP4 Thorsky; ; ; PFC Hughes; ; ; PFC Ashley; ; ; PFC Harris; ; ; PFC Daugherty; ; ; PFC Kotarski; ; ; PFC McKillip; ; ; SP4 Roberts; ; ; SP4 Cameron; ; ; SP4 Evaro; ; ; SP4 Clampitt; ; ; SP4 Croteau; ; ; SP4 Crum; ; ; SP4 Sharp; ; ; SP4 Grinstead; ; ; SP4 Kendrick; ; ; SP4 Roberts; ; ; SP4 Cua; ; ; SP4 Detato; ; ; SP4 Allen; ; ; SP4 Chavez; ; ; SP4 Aksila; ; ; SP4 Crimaldi; ; ; PVT Mahone; ; ; PFC Hayes; ; ; PFC Velliquette; ; ; PFC Byrd; ; ; PFC Soulliere; ; ; PFC Drummond; ; ; PVT Guajardo; ; ;

The source for this information was 1970 Year Book provided by Dave Mills


Additional information is available on CD-ROM.

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Date posted on this site: 05/13/2023